Itinerary – FIRE – Foxhunting Mongolia

Trip Itinerary

Join us for this exclusive foxhunting trip in Mongolia!

Beginning with two days touring Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, and the surrounding area, we will spend most of our time in Western Mongolia in the predominantly Kazakh province of Bayan-Olgii. In Bayan-Olgii, our journey will start in Tsambagarav National Park, where we will hunt and travel by horseback with eagle hunters for a week on our way to the Eagle Festival. You will have your own horse and tack for the trip. This is a unique opportunity to ride, hunt, and stay with a nomadic Kazakh hunting family. We will be hunting on most days, including days when we will be riding up to 30 km (18 miles) to get to our next ger (yurt) camp. There also may be opportunities to do a little racing if you are so inclined! We will have a support vehicle traveling with us every day, carrying water, extra clothing, and lunch.

While there are other "eagle hunting" trips offered in Mongolia, this is the only one that is truly focused on actually hunting, watching the hunter and eagle work, and seeing the taking of prey. Multiple times. Also, on your trusty Mongoian horse, you will experience riding like you've never done before. Rocky? Steep? Expansive landscapes? You've not seen anything like it, guaranteed. This trip is not for beginner or timid riders!

At the Eagle Festival, we will enjoy watching traditional sport competitions including skills with eagles, horse racing, camel racing, archery, and other equestrian races. There are many handicraft and food vendors set up and opportunities for purchasing all types of Kazakh-made fur wear and clothing, so save room in your luggage! In nearby Olgii, we’ll have opportunities to attend some traditional Kazakh musical performances and spend our last night there at the Makhsum Hotel.

While this trip has as high-end accommodations and food as possible in this part of the world, including gers (yurts) that are set up just for us, our own portable toilets, and a first class chefs traveling with us, it is an adventure; as such, you must be prepared for periodic lack of facilities, inclement weather, changes in itinerary, and having a once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with stories to entertain at many a hunt breakfast.

Day 1

Day 1 Arrive in Ulaanbaatar (UB)

You will be met at the Chinggis Khan International Airport by a driver and transferred to our hotel, the Blue Sky Hotel and Tower, located in the center of UB, directly across from Sukhbaatar Square and within walking distance to many attractions. Depending on what time you arrive, you may be able to spend some time on a walking tour of central Ulaanbaater, Sukhbaatar Square, the iconic State Department Store, and checking out some shopping, the city park, or museums along the way. We will meet in the lobby at 5:00 PM and have dinner at a restaurant near the hotel.

Overnight in hotel, Dinner

Day 2

Day 2 Full day in UB

After breakfast in the hotel, we will meet our local guide and walk to the Chinggis Khaan National Museum. From here we will visit the Winter Palace of the eighth Bogd Khan (ruler of Mongolia) or the Choijin Lama Temple which was occupied by the brother of the eighth Bodh Khan. If time allows we will climb to the Zaisan Memorial with its panoramic view of the entire city of Ulaanbaatar and the Tuul River. We will spend the afternoon at the famous “Black Market,” a sprawling spread of vendors selling just about everything you could imagine — from leather goods and boots to electronics and housewares to knives and equestrian supplies — the Black Market is about as authentic as it gets, with locals, especially those from the countryside and the districts surrounding the city, coming in to stock up on goods of every sort.

In the evening we will take a short walk to the performance theater of the Tumen Ekh Ensemble. The Ensemble performs the ancient arts of Mongolia including long song, Khoomi (throat singing), contortionist, morin khuur (the horse head fiddle), Tsam dances and more. Following the performance we will dine at a fabulous nearby restaurant.

Overnight in hotel, B,L,D

Day 3

Day 3 Full day in UB/Countryside

After breakfast in the hotel, we will meet our guide and driver and take a trip out into the countryside where we will spend the day with a Mongolian nomad family. We will have an opportunity to see their way of life, herd some livestock, and indulge in a filling traditional home cooked meal. It’s likely we’ll have our first customary vodka shots too, to prepare us for further family visits. If anyone is possibly still hungry, upon our return to town, we will dine nearby.

Overnight in hotel, B,L,D

Day 4

Day 4 Fly to Ölgii, drive to Tsambagarav National Park

We'll catch a morning 2-hour flight to the town of Ölgii in Bayan-Olgii province in far Western Mongolia. After a quick breakfast upon arrival, we will meet our guide/translator and drivers and travel by Russian Furgon van 1.5 hours to Tsambagarav National Park where we will arrive at our first ger camp. Here we will meet our local eagle hunters who we will be with throughout our time in Bayan-Olgii, along with the rest of our support team. We will get introduced to our riding horses and equipment and, if time, have a short ride around the camp in the afternoon. Our cook(s) will prepare dinner and we will dine in our kitchen ger.

Overnight in ger - Camp 1, B,L,D

Day 5

Day 5 All day ride/hunt in Tsambagarav National Park

We will spend most of the day in the saddle, riding about 20 km around the National Park over varying terrain at all speeds (walk, trot, canter, and maybe even race!). This will give us a chance to not only ride over spectacular country, but get used to our personal horses and see just how amazing these Mongolian horses are. We will be hunting with eagles throughout the day. Our van carries any supplies we need and meets us with food for a sit-down lunch in the field. We will return to our ger camp for dinner.

Overnight in ger - Camp 1, B,L,D

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Dday 13

Day 13 Altansogst Eagle Festival

Two days will be spent enjoying the Altansogst Eagle Festival where local Kazakhs show their eagle hunting culture and their unique traditions. Starting with the opening parade, the first day of competition includes the eagle calling, along with some mounted horse games, and other events. There are local handicraft vendors to check out. You can climb up to the top of the hill where the eagle hunters are releasing the birds for the competition, or if interested, take a camel ride. Needless to say, this event is a hoot! We will have a private ger available both days to sit in for lunch and there will be tea and snacks available throughout the day. We will return to our ger camp for dinner.

Overnight in ger - Camp 3, B,L,D

Day 14

Day 14 Altansogst Eagle Festival

The second day of the festival features a competition of the eagle catching the prey, mounted horse games, and may include camel races and archery competitions too. There may even be an opportunity for you to participate as well! Following the festival on Sunday, we will drive to Olgii and have dinner and live music at the Makhsum Hotel.

Overnight in hotel, B,L,D

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17